ATC told reporter to make procedure turn 1000' highter than specified in approach plate.

Attributes
ACN	102270
Time
Date	198901
Day	Sat
Local Time Of Day	1801 To 2400
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ctj
State Reference	GA
Altitude	msl bound lower : 3000 msl bound upper : 4000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : atl
Operator	general aviation : personal
Make Model Name	Small Aircraft
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	Other
Function	flight crew : single pilot
Qualification	pilot : private pilot : instrument
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 50 flight time total : 1225 flight time type : 300
ASRS Report	102270
Person 2
Affiliation	government : faa
Function	controller : approach
Qualification	controller : radar
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : unable
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Operational Deviation

Narrative:

Approach plate states 3000'. ATC wanted us at 4000' and it is extremely hard to get down to minimums from the NDB at that altitude. I had to shoot two approachs because of that, because when we got to the airport we were too high to land. Callback conversation with reporter revealed following information. Reporter was descending for procedure turn at 3000'. ATC called and said he should be at 4000'. Confusion prevailed but reporter complied with ATC which resulted in a difficult approach.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ATC TOLD REPORTER TO MAKE PROC TURN 1000' HIGHTER THAN SPECIFIED IN APCH PLATE.

Narrative: APCH PLATE STATES 3000'. ATC WANTED US AT 4000' AND IT IS EXTREMELY HARD TO GET DOWN TO MINIMUMS FROM THE NDB AT THAT ALT. I HAD TO SHOOT TWO APCHS BECAUSE OF THAT, BECAUSE WHEN WE GOT TO THE ARPT WE WERE TOO HIGH TO LAND. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED FOLLOWING INFO. REPORTER WAS DESCENDING FOR PROC TURN AT 3000'. ATC CALLED AND SAID HE SHOULD BE AT 4000'. CONFUSION PREVAILED BUT REPORTER COMPLIED WITH ATC WHICH RESULTED IN A DIFFICULT APCH.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of August 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.